Bridge at East Finchley Station

Andrew Dismore: The Bridge at East Finchley Station over the High Road is in a disgusting state, there are several dead pigeon carcasses stuck in the netting, with pigeon droppings, blood and other dirt making the pavements and bus stops dangerously dirty and a public health hazard. Please can we ask TfL to repair the netting, remove the dead pigeons and undertake a deep clean?

The Mayor: Transport for London has confirmed that on 12 June it completed the repairs to the netting, removed the dead pigeon carcasses and cleaned the pavement.

Tube Noise near Warren Street

Andrew Dismore: What is the latest on work to reduce tube noise in Fitzrovia? When will the rails in both directions on the Victoria Line next be ground?

The Mayor: Over the weekend of 23-25 May 2020, Transport for London (TfL) carried out extensive rail grinding on the Victoria line, including a section in this area, where heavy corrugation had been identified.
Currently, rail grinding is next scheduled for the Victoria line in late 2020. I have asked that TfL continues to keep you updated on this programme, including the plans for Fitzrovia, over the coming months.
In the longer-term, TfL is continuing to investigate the feasibility of using the Delkor track fastening product at this location, with the aim of reducing noise and vibration.
Please also see my response to Mayor’s Question 2020/1988.

Babcock review of LFB training

Andrew Dismore: When will the internal Babcock review of the training provided to LFB be complete and will the findings and recommendations be published?

The Mayor: Improvement of services from Babcock is being progressed through several workstreams. The transfer of design to London Fire Brigade (LFB) and the process of arranging delivery in-house will begin later this month. The development of a shared trainer resource is another workstream that is being progressed.
LFB will also be amending the commercial side of the contract with Babcock.This workstream will focus on a new pricing mechanism that will protect in-year fluctuations and afford greater flexibility and agility within the contract, including through a revised KPI mechanism. This workstream will address the commercial implications of the transfer of design and the development of a shared trainer resource. Officers will agree contractual variations which will be implemented incrementally to speed the rate of change.
LFB is unable to publish the findings from these workstreams, due to commercial sensitivity.  The culmination of these work streams is due by the end of 2023.

Rail Grinding Between Highbury and Islington and Kings Cross Stations

Jennette Arnold: Why has the grinding work taking place between Highbury and Islington and King Cross Stations taken place only intermittently when noise complaints in the area have been ongoing since 2016?

The Mayor: Over the weekend of 23-25 May 2020, Transport for London (TfL) carried out extensive rail grinding on the Victoria line, including station-to station grinding in both directions between Highbury & Islington and King’s Cross St. Pancras.
Rail grinding in this area was limited during 2018 and until February 2019 as TfL was carrying out work to convert both northbound and southbound tracks to flat-bottom rail - a more modern track form. Flat-bottom conversion works are carried out as part of TfL’s ongoing maintenance works to ensure the reliability of the Tube network, as this track form is more resilient.
Following this, in July 2019, TfL hand-grinded small sections of track where areas of heavy corrugation were identified. In September 2019, TfL carried out further rail grinding on 400 metres of the southbound track, using a rail grinding machine.
Currently, rail grinding is next scheduled for the Victoria line in late 2020. I have asked that TfL officers continue to keep you updated on this programme over the coming months.

Camden Town Station upgrade

Andrew Dismore: What is the current status of the Camden Town Station upgrade?

The Mayor: The Transport for London (TfL) Business Plan published in December 2019 states that the realisation of the Camden and Holborn schemes relies on steady and sustained investment from the Government.
Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, both the Camden Town and Holborn station capacity upgrades were unfunded. The Business Plan stated that as TfL has no certainty of capital funding beyond 2020, it would be making the case to Government for capital support to enable these critical projects. That position remains unchanged, although the situation has become even more challenging given the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Tube Noise Delkor trials

Andrew Dismore: Please provide an update on the Delkor track fixing trials; and indicate when the trials are to be evaluated with a view to a wider rollout across the network?

The Mayor: Transport for London (TfL) is currently trialling an alternative rail fastening called Delkor 167 on the Jubilee line. As a result of the coronavirus outbreak and the unavoidable focus on safety critical works, this work has unfortunately been delayed.
TfL expects to have further information on the impact of this product on residential and in-carriage noise levels by spring 2021. I have asked that TfL provides you with an update on this work later this year.
Once the evaluation is complete, TfL will provide you with a further update, including on plans to roll out this alternative rail fastening at other locations.

Holborn Station upgrade

Andrew Dismore: What is the current status of the Holborn Station upgrade?

The Mayor: Please see my response to Mayor’s Question 2020/1973.